PW's Year of Beer: Avery Maharaja

We love beer. That's why we're devoting an entire year to discovering (and drinking) cold ones from near and far. Know of a beer worth shouting out? Send us a note at tips@philadelphiaweekly.com.

If you like them intense, you came to the right place. Avery’s Maharaja is an imperial IPA that lives up to the “imperial” moniker. This big daddy sours past 10 percent ABV and features aggressive doses of hops, and yet doesn’t drink as if it’s as huge as it is. Great trick, that. This is a massive sipping drink with a complex, pine-laden flavor, chunky but smooth malts, and an aroma that might as well be oranges hanging from Christmas trees it’s so fragrant. It’s not pure bitterness, though. There is a big, fat, sweet backbone here that is like sweet breads and toffee, giving that hopping something to play off. In fact, this mega imperial IPA is decidedly LESS bitter than your usual IPA, despite rich hop flavors. See how they manage the trick at Pitchers Pub.